"It's been about... six years now, I suppose. We started dating when we were eighteen," Hermione says, making sure to keep her hair out of the way as Elle helps to zip the dress up fully. "Whether or not he's willing to admit to it or not, I'm not sure, but as far as I'm concerned, we weren't really considering anyone else for the couple of years beforehand. It's strange, to grow up alongside someone else in that way."

Hermione leans down slightly to straighten out the hem of the dress, making sure not to step on the fabric as she makes her way out of the dressing room.

"The two of us and our best friend, Harry, have been practically inseparable since we started school together when we were eleven. And at that age, you're usually not thinking about boyfriends and girlfriends. Easing into that realization was, well. Difficult. At first, it was as though Ron was uncomfortable even thinking of me as a girl rather than a mate, so to speak. Because clearly, your best friends can't also be girls."